Mariano returns as Solari has one eye on Copa Clásico
With Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg in mind, Real Madrid's squad is announced for Sunday's LaLiga clash against Alavés.
Another game and another squad list with Brahim Díaz omitted for Real Madrid. Santiago Solari will have one eye on the upcoming Copa Clásico but others' eyebrows have been raised with the lack of involvement for the young man tempted away from Premier League moneybags Manchester City in January.
Díaz in, Díaz out
The Argentine coach has once again left out the headline-grabbing signing of the winter market, the second consecutive game he's missed out on the squad. This means it'll be five games that Los Blancos have played since he last featured, on 16 January against Leganés.
A returner to the fold is Mariano Díaz, back in after almost two complete months (his last was on 6 December against Melilla in the Copa del Rey) after recovering from his sciatic nerve problem. The forward has trained normally in recent days and although close to featuring against Girona, could well get some pitchtime today.
Goalkeeper Diego Altube, from Madrid's youth side comes into the squad for the injured Luca Zidane, while Luka Modric also returns after being rested midweek. Both Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde have been left out by Solari and defenders Raphael Varane and Dani Carvajal are suspended.
Real Madrid squad for Alavés
Goalkeepers: Navas, Courtois, Altube.
Defenders: Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo, Odriozola, Reguilón, Javi Sánchez.
Midfielders: Modric, Casemiro, Llorente, Asensio, Isco, Ceballos.
Forwards: Mariano, Benzema, Bale, Lucas Vázquez, Vinicius Jr.
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